Rights In The Military

People of many different faiths and those who have no particular faith have always served together in the military. Americans United strives to keep it that way.

When people volunteer to protect and defend our country, they should not have to sacrifice their own religious freedom. That’s why no member of the Armed Forces should be forced to participate in prayers given by military chaplains or face religious coercion from their commanding officers.

The military should accommodate service members’ religious exercise when it doesn’t harm military readiness, health or safety. For example, members of the Armed Forces who are Sikh should be able to wear head coverings and beards while serving. But no service member should be able to use religion as an excuse to discriminate against others, including those who are LGBTQ or of a minority faith.

Military chaplains should be prepared to serve the religious and spiritual needs of a diverse community of troops, but one evangelical Christian Air Force chaplain in Ohio apparently has a problem supporting the rights of people of different faiths.